HYDROGEN-MOBILITY-EUROPE

Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2ME) – the ambitious multi-country,
multi-partner project to demonstrate that hydrogen can support Europe’s
future transport demands – today announced that the first 100 fuel cell
electric vehicles (FCEVs) deployed by H2ME are now on the road in
Germany, France and the UK.

Demonstrate the system benefits generated by using electrolytic
hydrogen solutions in grid operations.

Sixty of Symbio’s Renault
Kangoo ZE-H2 range-extended fuel cell vans have been deployed in the UK
and France, supporting the development of a network of hydrogen
refuelling stations in those markets. Powered by a compact 5 kW fuel
cell module, coupled with a hydrogen storage unit and medium-size
automotive battery pack, Symbio’s range-extender kit doubles the range
of Renault’s electric-only Kangoo ZE model to 320 Km.

In addition, Daimler has deployed 40 B-Class F-CELL vehicles under H2ME
in Germany. Thanks to the 700-bar, high-pressure fuel-tank system, the
car has a long operating range of around 400 kilometres and can be
refuelled in less than three minutes. The vehicle’s electric motor
develops an output of 100 kW and, with a torque of 290 Nm, the car
combines local emission-free mobility with day-to-day suitability and
good performance figures.

The new vehicles are exciting the market with the potential of a new
generation of fuel-efficient, zero-emission vehicles. For CETUP, a
logistics and delivery company, the Renault Kangoo ZE-H2 equipped by
Symbio is a welcome addition to the fleet. It reduces overall fuel
dependence and emissions, while providing the smooth ride and power
necessary to keep the business moving forward. Symbio noted that in
specialised markets where zero emissions and guaranteed daily operation
are critical, Kangoo ZE-H2 customers are winning new business over
competition. To perform last-mile delivery in cities that prohibit
polluting transport, hydrogen provides unique features compared to pure
battery-based utility vehicles. To illustrate, last September, CETUP’s
Kangoo ZE-H2 equipped by Symbio broke a range record by covering 367 km
at once with a fully loaded battery and a full hydrogen tank.

A promising technology for the future

In the coming years, the H2ME project will deploy partners’
next-generation FCEVs, including: Symbio’s next-generation FC RE-EV
(Fuel Cell Range Extender Electric Vehicle) vans and Symbio Fuel Cell
range-extended trucks; Honda’s second-generation FCEV; and Daimler’s
next-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC F-CELL, which includes the additional
energy source of a large lithium-ion battery and will feature external
charging by plug-in technology for the first time. In total, more than
1,400 FCEVs will be deployed as part of the H2ME project throughout the
UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The aim is to
increase the number of FCEVs operating on Europe’s roads to build on the
strong networks of hydrogen refuelling stations created by H2ME and
other initiatives across the EU.

“Symbio is proud to be part of the hydrogen momentum in Europe and
contribute to a low-carbon economy by facilitating the deployment of
100% zero-emission and 100% electric vehicles,” said Pierre-Yves
Le-Berre, VP, Symbio
. “Electric vehicles integrated with Symbio’s
range extender are able to reduce air pollution in urban areas. Our
ambition is to equip all urban delivery centres with our vehicles to
guarantee the absence of harmful emissions, as well as address new
market trends and regulations. For instance, if a delivery centre used a
Renault Kangoo equipped with our range extender, driving 200 km a day in
Paris, it would remove the carbon emissions of 20 private vehicles.”

“Vehicles such as the B-Class F-CELL and the Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid
urban bus have covered altogether more than 12 million kilometres to
date, proving the market readiness of this power train,” said Dr
Georg Frank, Senior Manager Fuel Cell Advanced Engineering and
H2-Infrastructure at Daimler AG
. “Now we strongly continue to pursue
our goal of bringing the next-generation fuel cell electric vehicles,
based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC, to the market. But the big breakthrough
of electric mobility with fuel cell depends on more than just the factor
‘car’: it is ultimately the combination of an attractive product offer,
infrastructure, services, and not least, public support. The last
hurdles we will have to overcome in intensive cross-industry and
cross-border teamwork – H2ME is a very good example of it.”

Ben Madden, Element Energy, Overall Coordinator of the H2ME projects,
said,
“H2ME is delighted to see its first 100 fuel cell
vehicles now on the road in three critical European markets. To start
the transition to a zero-emission transportation system it is essential
to put the latest technology in drivers’ hands and use the hydrogen
demand created to develop and test the refuelling networks, which are
required to support these vehicles. We are proud of the rapid progress
our partners have made in deploying this technology, which can
accelerate Europe’s move to clean transportation.”

Notes to editors:

About H2ME

This €170 million demonstration project is co-funded with €67 million
from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a
public-private partnership supporting fuel cell and hydrogen energy
technologies in Europe.

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is a unique
public-private partnership supporting research, technological
development and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen
energy technologies in Europe. Its aim is to accelerate the market
introduction of these technologies, realising their potential as an
instrument in achieving a carbon-lean energy system.

The three members of the FCH JU are the European commission; the fuel
cell and hydrogen industries, represented by the NEW industry grouping;
and the research community, represented by research grouping N.ERGHY.

This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint
Undertaking under grant agreement No 671438 and No 700350. This joint
undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme, Hydrogen Europe, and the New European
Research Grouping on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (“N.ERGHY”).